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Croatian international Nikica Jelavic joined Everton on January 31, 2012.

The deadline day signing joined from SPL champions Rangers on a four-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Born in Capljina, the striker began his career as a youth at GOŠK Gabela. A move to NK Neretva in Croatia came before a transfer to Hajduk Split at the age of 15.

After breaking into the senior side at the age of 17, he spent five seasons competing in the Prva HNL before signing for S.V. Zulte Waregem.

In 2007, Jelavic was called up to the Croatian national team for the Euro 2008 qualifiers, although he did not feature.

He then started to crop up on larger clubs' radars, joining Austrian champions Rapid Vienna at the start of the 2008/09 season.

His goalscoring became increasingly prolific, with seven goals in nine starts and 15 substitute appearances in his debut season. That was bettered in the next campaign with a return of 17 strikes in 33 games, as well as four goals in six Europa League fixtures.

His international debut came on October 8, 2009 against Qatar. Jelavic came off the bench and scored his first international goal to give Croatia a 3-2 win in the final minutes of the game.

On August 20, 2010, Jelavic completed a £4million move to Rangers. In his season-and-a-half at the Ibrox Stadium, the forward scored 36 goals in 55 appearances.

The Croatian became David Moyes' third signing of the January 2012 transfer window, following the arrivals of Landon Donovan on loan and Darron Gibson.

Jelavic made his Everton debut coming on as a substitute against Wigan on February 4, 2012.